Tañgi, Marriane R.

October 11, 2019 (Friday) 8:30 – 10:00 am

BSMT1-1 Prof. Lorenzo Hipolito

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral: A Reaction Paper

The first thing that you witness in watching the film, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, is how
flawed we Filipinos and our leaders are. Though many of us admit that we are disappointed
about how our historic events turned out to be, many hidden messages were depicted and are to
be learned in the story. I would like to start with the character of Joven, who is a fictional
character that we thought was only created to be the storyteller who witnessed the wars. But on a
scene where he was talking with his uncle the photographer about not knowing what he could
learn from these people around him, his uncle simply said, “E di matuto ka sa mga pagkakamali
nila.” This is what we Filipinos should do at this moment in facing the adversaries we see today.
I see the entire Filipino generation today in Joven’s character who is just watching events unfold
before his eyes and going with the winds wherever it takes him. Being mere bystanders while the
country crumbles, has become an inherited trait from our forefathers. This could also be seen
especially with our president nowadays that while our economy is depreciating in value, he just
lets his managers do the work which contributed nothing, while he shuts Trillanes with an
amnesty and a conflict starts between the two. That instead of focusing on the real problems of
our country, our leaders worry more about the “politics” in the hierarchical system, trying to
eliminate people that do not stand with the president’s views and principles. Rodrigo Duterte is
the modern Emilio Aguinaldo of this century, who instead of helping the Philippines rise up to
greatness, he attacks his people especially the poor through his order of extrajudicial killings,
while those in power who are really the roots to the drugs stay untouched until now. Like Emilio
Aguinaldo, he never really took care of his people and only cares about maintaining the people’s
loyalty to him. Because he did not care for his people, the people will also not care for him who
leads the country. Simply put, the Revolution in 1899 - 1902 against the Americans failed
because of wrong leading of our government and leaders. And we may fail again as a country by
choosing the wrong leaders who govern our actions, blindly listening to our own principles and
forgetting who we are.

There was a scene in the movie when Manuel Bernal was captured and tries to bully Goyo
saying that he is merely a dog of the President. That because of his loyalty to the President he
forgot to follow his own thoughts, principles, and morals. I concur that it is depicted that Emilio
Aguinaldo was just an idol to be admired by his people. He became above the people like an idol
or a god to be worshiped, but what we really need is a leader that is equal to us and can build the
country through strong teamwork with his fellow members and a common goal of rising as a
country. Setting aside the personal gains and sacrificing for the greater good of the country. This
was the mistake that our heroes have made that is most likely to happen again in the present
national leadership if we do not become one as a country. Manual Bernal’s words continued to
haunt him throughout the film. He seemed to be a leader whose youth seemed to go against him and
a conflicted person fighting his inner demons. Eventually, his vision inspired him to finish the fight
before he was shot by an American in Tirad Pass.

We should not hide from the shame we’ve committed on ourselves by choosing leaders
that are more “priviledged” and “tough,” and ignoring or ousting those who have the ability to
change the country for the better. Throughout history, it were Filipinos who killed their great
leaders that could lead them to freedom and independence because of the fear of that their
passion, vision, and ambition to make the impossible happen is understated. That is freedom.
That because of our own selfish ways, it resulted to the hundreds of years of slavery and
colonization. In the movie, I remember one character saying that Filipinos mostly care about
their families first. But sacrificing family for the country is not an idea that the Filipinos agree
with. Though it is a trait that is to be admired by others, it has also caused our downfall. But
maybe it was never really a trait of “family-orientedness,” but of fear of going into the unknown
knowing your life is fragile. Even Goyo is seen as scared many times because he remembers
again and again that his life is on the line and he is just a mortal. Fear was great. And Filipinos
would rather change their costumes from a Philippine soldier to a lowly Filipino and run for
their lives. Ginhawa kesa dignidad. Truly, the revolution in Del Pilar's time and management
was full of stupid, foolish, cowards, liars and self-centered people and that can only be the
reason that we cannot expect victory against the Americans.

History was made not just for appreciation or preservation but as a guide to know where
we came from and learn from the mistakes of the past. Americans have won the Philippine-
American war not because they are stronger and had more weapons, but they simply just sit back
and watch as we Filipinos stab and kill each other in the back. That because we were not one
with all the others, it created our doom. Goyo and Heneral Luna died, and so was the courage
and dignity of the Filipinos.

It was also seen in the movie that both Filipinos and Americans used members of the
ethnic tribes on the mountains as their guide but treated them wrongly and tied them. We should
not treat these people as if they are someone lower than we are for they have more culture and
heart than the modern Filipinos. Let us help them as they have helped us in many ways. And as
for the Americans who manipulated Filipinos by giving false peace and freedom, we should
learn to take control of our country than have foreigners using our country for business and
dominion.

When people in the higher ranks do just little actions to help the country, it is already
considered negligence to the people. Wrong leadership results to a deteriorating country. Maybe
it is true that they call us children, for we get confused and forget our responsibilities for life
pleasures. But the theme of the movie was never really to make Filipinos look bad and defeated
but it revolves around the quote, “Tandaan mo kung sino ka,” which was the phrase Julian del
Pilar always reminds Goyo when he is lost and afraid. We too should remind ourselves with this
quote. To come back to our roots. Remember our purpose, nationality, history, and cultures. We
need time for self-reflection, knowing what mistakes were made and learning from these. It is
time to remember that we are Filipinos.

When Goyo was watching the view of the valley from the top he was able to realize that he
is fighting for our nation. It showed his personal return to the true meaning of heroism. He was able
to reawaken his principles, aligning it with his love for his country. He decided on his own volition.
Away from the loyalty and devotion that he had to his idol President Aguinaldo. It took him a while
before he realized and chose to be a soldier for our country and not Aguinaldo’s ‘dog’. His visions
that haunted him, eventually inspired him to finish the battle. He seemed to lack military skills, but
this was probably because of his young age. He does not have enough experience as compared to
Luna. But I think, those things is not enough for a man to be a hero. A hero is a person who died
nobly and one who served his counrty with all of his heart and willing to sacrifice everything in order
to fight for our freedom. After, I still believe that he could have been a better soldier, leader, and hero
if he was not killed and given more time to grow and develop his skills.
 To end this reaction paper, to be honest, after watching this movie, i felt anger and
disappointment inside me. Anger for I have known how foolish and stupid the people involved in
the miserable history we had. I felt anger because for a long time i was been fooled also by some
books I've read in my early age of existence but know this movir successfully thought me who
are the true heroes of the Filipinos. I was disappointed to the Filipinos and their flaws and
mistakes that lead us to more miserable experience. And now, I'm still wondering how can be
Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar treated as hero even though he was just a dog of his idol, who did not
lead the revolution with his heart and true meaning of heroism and nationalism instead lead it by
how the President wants. and Emilio Aguinaldo who was a traitor and a murderer of Andres
Bonifacio and Gen. Antonio Luna, the true heroes of the Filipinos, who truly fight for our
country with all of their hearts and devotion for our country, and a self-centered man whose
concern only with his self-interests.

Yet, it is done and it cannot be undone. Today, all we can do is learn from our mistakes.
Go on with our lives and focus on the present for us to have a better future not only for us, also
for the next generations.